Danielle Chiaramonte and Cayetana Navarro, co-chairs of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) Affinity group did not know each other before becoming co-chairs in 2021. It was almost a year before they met in person. Now good friends, they reflect on their experience guiding their members through a difficult time and how creating a safe but social atmosphere for their members was necessary in a post-pandemic world.
Danielle came to Yale in 2020 as a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Psychiatry. She now works as an associate research scientist at the Yale LGBTQ Mental Health Initiative conducting research to understand the mental health of LGBTQ populations. She grew up in Chicago, Illinois, and is a diehard White Sox fan.
Cayetana Navarro grew up in Texas before attending Wesleyan University for her undergraduate degree. After earning an MBA at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, in 2011, she returned to the Nutmeg State when her husband began his residency at the Yale School of Medicine (YSM). They now call Hamden home. She worked at the School of Medicine in the Office of Communications for a decade as its deputy director of operations and now works as program manager for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in Internal Medicine at YSM.
This interview has been lightly edited and condensed.
How did you get involved with the Yale LGBTQ group?
Danielle: I moved here after finishing my Ph.D. in community psychology at Michigan State University in Lansing. I knew no one. My father had recently passed away; it was during the height of the pandemic and a tough time to meet new people. The LGBTQ affinity group was the only way I could meet queer friends during that time. They had so much social programming, including virtual happy hours and game nights. It was exactly what I needed to get connected here, and I’m so grateful for it. When you find yourself in a new city, it is hard to find queer spaces. The pandemic made it more complicated, and this group understood the toll the pandemic was taking on queer people and provided the support to keep people connected during a difficult time.
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Cayetana: During the pandemic, I had a strong desire to get involved and do something meaningful. Previously, I had been involved in the Yale Latino Networking Group and had not done anything with the LGBTQ group. I reached out to them, asking about opportunities. They said, “Do you want to be co-chair?” It was a fortuitous accident. Dani and I didn’t know each other before becoming co-chairs. On top of that, we became chairs during the pandemic, so for many months, we never really met in person. Now I consider her a good friend.
What kind of support does this affinity group offer, and who is it for?
Danielle: We offer support to the queer employees at Yale through education and advocacy, but what I love most is creating spaces for folks to feel safe. It’s hard to make friends as an adult when you are new to an area, and this group has created a space at Yale to meet new people.
During the pandemic, we started a queer softball team called “The OUTfielders.” We were awful, but everyone loved it. We had matching T-shirts and went out together after each game. When winter came, it turned into a volleyball team. It was so nice to do an in-person activity together. Other members who weren’t into sports came to cheer us on. It was something to look forward to during a dark time. Now post-pandemic, we have been doing more in-person events.
Cayetana: We are here to support faculty, staff, and postdocs that are in some way affiliated or allied with the LGBTQ community. People seeking the LGBTQ community at Yale tend to find us, largely by word of mouth or a Google search. We have a broad, disparate membership with lots of overlap with the other groups because we cut across all races and ethnicities.
How has your experience with Yale LGBTQ affected your career?
Danielle: It has had a tremendous impact! I found my current job as a member of this affinity group. Initially, when I was asked to be co-chair, I was concerned about taking an unpaid leadership role. I talked to my then supervisor, who thought it would be a good experience given my interest in LGBTQ research, a good networking opportunity, and provide a social outlet. During one of the virtual events, I met Professor John Pachankis. We started talking about my background, and he told me he had a job opening. As the event was winding down, he and I stayed on Zoom to continue talking.
Cayetana: After I became co-chair, I got involved in developing the new indigenous leaders’ affinity group. My work in both programs helped me stand out when I applied for my current job. I was able to show I was engaged with leadership positions that are in line with the DEI office. The new indigenous leaders’ affinity group is set to debut soon.
What have you accomplished as a chair of the affinity group?
Danielle: We’ve accomplished a lot. I’m proud of the sports teams and the larger events like the Halloween party. In addition to the many social events, we’ve had some great speakers and even a comedy improv show, which was fun and popular. The Office of Diversity and Inclusion is so supportive; they help us dream up some lively events. I’m glad we kept the group connected during the pandemic so successfully. I’ve made many good friends, and I hope others continue to go to this group to find a warm, welcoming, and fun community.
Cayetana: We helped bring people together after the pandemic. There were lots of well-attended programs. You always worry — “Is anyone going to come to our party?” — but we did an excellent job of planning events and activities that tapped into people’s desires to get together again in person, and everyone really had a good time. We also had meaningful activities and co-sponsored programs with other groups. We put a lot out there—from silly cookie decorating to movie nights to having authors come and speak. I’m proud of all we accomplished.
The LGBTQ committee meetings take place on the third Tuesday of every month from 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. and are open to all Yale staff, faculty, and postdocs. Discussions revolve around advocacy for our community and event planning.
Yale’s affinity groups are supported by the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, under the leadership of Deborah Stanley-McAulay, associate vice president of employee engagement and workplace culture. This is the third in a series of interviews with affinity group leaders, volunteers who are chosen by their peers for two-year terms. The first installment introduced the co-chairs of the Working Women’s Network, and the second introduced the co-chairs of the Yale Veterans Network.
